A major USC scholarship is helping Teddi Barker ease into making the jump from her small beachside community near Bundaberg to university on the Sunshine Coast.

The Woodgate Beach resident has received a Tim Fairfax Regional Scholarship, worth up to $20,000, which supports high-achieving USC students who move from regional or remote areas to go to university.

Teddi, who attended Bundaberg State High School and received an OP4, started studying a Bachelor of Creative Writing at USC’s Sunshine Coast campus last month.

“This scholarship really does mean the world to me as it allows me to pursue my passion for creative writing without hesitation or obstacles,” said Teddi.

The 17-year-old said the scholarship, paid in instalments of $5,000 for each year of undergraduate study, had helped to make the transition easier and eased the financial pressure of having to leave home to attend university.

“My hometown is a quiet place, 40 minutes from the nearest school with a population of less than 1,000 people,” she said.

“Coming from this small community I was at first a little overwhelmed by the liveliness of the Sunshine Coast, however I am now settling in well to USC and the lifestyle of the Coast.”

Teddi plans to turn her lifelong interest in creative writing and her fascination for ancient civilisations into a career as a historian, author, publisher or editor.

“These can be challenging professions but I aspire to reach my goals no matter what is asked of me,” said Teddi, who won subject prizes for senior English, mathematics A, drama, legal studies and ancient history at Bundaberg State High School.

“Having this financial support throughout my degree will also encourage me to strive to maintain high grades and ultimately succeed in my degree.”

— Clare McKay